Car Seats
Britax Boulevard CS Car Seat - True Side Impact Protection and Click & Safe Harness Adjuster
Britax has just introduced a new version of their Boulevard Car Seat, the Boulevard CS ($329.99). It has the same features as the Boulevard like True Side Impact Protection, LATCH Connection, a recline feature, body pillow, belt holders, Britax's patented Versa-Tether, quick-adjust headrest and plus the NEW Click & Safe Harness Adjuster (hence the CS in the name). That means you hear an audible click when the harness straps are snug. This convertible car seat can be used rear or forward-facing with children from 5 to 65 pounds.
My neighbor helped me to install it rear-facing for my 8 month old in our 1995 Toyota Camry. The True Side Impact Protection, with the Boulevard CS's deep side walls and adjustable head support, was our number one reason for transitioning our baby daughter to this car seat. The body pillow was very comfortable and removable once our baby gets a little bigger. The Boulevard CS is much bigger than the Roundabout and Diplomat -- so you should make sure it will fit in your car. The Boulevard CS's dimensions are W19.5 x H27 x D25.5, which is EXACTLY the same size as the Marathon's dimensions of W19.5 x H27.5 x D25.5.
The new Click & Safe Harness Adjuster was another reason why we like the Boulevard CS -- the mechanism allows me to hear an audible click once the harness is correctly tightened around my child (when I pull the adjuster strap). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 59% of harness straps on children's car seats are dangerously loose. Laura Jana, M.D., pediatrician, child passenger safety technician and mother of three said, “The harness straps serve the very important, and ultimately life-saving purpose of keeping children properly positioned and secured in their child safety seat. If these straps are not properly fastened or are loose at the time of a crash, children run a greater risk of being ineffectively restrained or even ejected from their seats – putting them at much greater risk of injury.”
I really appreciated the tangle-free harness (because I've spent too much time untangling harnesses in other car seats - ugh). The easy-turn knob made it so simple to adjust the head restraint and the harness height without unstrapping the car seat. If you're wondering what the Britax's patented Versa-Tether is for, it anchors the top of the seat to minimize movent in case of a crash.
This convertible car seat's weight guidelines are from 5 to 65 pounds and height guideline is 49 inches or less. Use it rear-facing for children who weigh 5 -35 pounds and forward-facing for children who weigh 20- 65 pounds. Because I feel that rear-facing is safer personally, I plan to keep my daughter rear-facing for another 8 months to a year. .
To learn more about the Boulevard CS - go Britax's site - they have detailed instructions and demos on how to install the car seat rear or forward -facing. If you still have trouble installing it, many police stations or hospitals provide free child safety seat inspections - find one at SeatCheck.org.
The Boulevard CS Car Seat is currently exclusive to Babies R Us (in the Riviera pattern, shown above). Independent retailers and specialty stores will begin carrying it starting mid- October. The fashions available will be Berkshire Tan, Davenport, Lauren, and Cow. The Riviera will remain exclusive to Babies R Us.
September 24, 2008 in Car Seats, Gear Reviews | by Nancy Horn | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Clek Boosters Make Safety Fun, Fashionable and Easy
Until we got a Clek, I never really believed that carseats could be fun. They were always a necessary evil, something that we invested in because we were responsible parents. Our kids sat in them begrudgingly, for the most part. But only after we spent half an afternoon cursing and moaning as we attempted to properly install them.
And then there was the Clek Olli. It's a backless booster, meant to be used with older children, between 40-100lbs and 40-57 inches. They must be able to sit properly with a lap positioning belt to use it safely. What sets Clek apart from other boosters is that is latches. Easily. Click Click. You may wonder why that is necessary, but slam on the brakes or take a sharp left and see what happens to other boosters. They slip and slide and can actually pose a threat to the person seated in them or beside them if they accidentally trigger the release of the lap positioning belt. Or they can become an airborne missile inside your car. Not good.
The Clek Olli is narrow enough to let other passengers sit in the back seat with the kids, but wide enough not to pinch anyone's bottom.
And finally - not to be forgotten, they are fashionable. They look cool. Our Clek is zebra print and looks just amazing with our black leather car interior. Like we tricked out our vehicle with custom kiddie seats. We keep an extra one installed "Just in Case" knowing full well that the kids will end up fighting over who gets to sit in the extra carseat. Which is a lot better than having them fight over riding in a carseat to begin with.
August 30, 2008 in Car Seats, Gear Reviews | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Britax Boulevard Car Seat - Fashion, Safety and Convenience
I researched so much about car seats when I was pregnant that I thought my head would explode. There are like a million infant car seats on the market and several of the brands come very highly rated and recommended. I found toddler car seats to be an easier market to navigate, from day one I knew I wanted a Britax seat.
The Britax Boulevard is the top of the line convertible Britax seat. It's safety features are numerous and I love the fashionable prints it comes in. It can accomodate children up to 65 lbs and 49". My favorite part of this seat is the side wings, it has head and torso safety wings that help keep your child safe during a side-impact crash. And in case you didn't know, side impact crashes are a leading cause of death for 6 to 14 year-olds. I also want to dispel any concerns you might have about the depth of the side wings. My daughter went from a Marathon to the Boulevard with no complaints. The side wings don't cut her off from the rest of the world and she still points out all the neat things she used to see as we ride around.
It also has built-in lock-offs, a 5-point harness with front adjuster, tangle-free webbing, a push button release LATCH system with Versa-Tether®, and a sculpted base that ensures an easy installation with a secure fit. I found installing this seat to be a breeze, the LATCH connectors snap in with ease and they remove just as easily if you need to reposition or remove the seat. I also love the beautiful prints that the Britax car seats come in. I have the Boulevard in the Shannon print, a beautiful purple and floral pattern, and it looks fabulous against the tan leather interior of my SUV. If you keep an eye on online retailer sites, you can usually catch a GREAT deal on Britax seats!
By Car and Caboodle Guest Reviewer Bronwyn Phonseya
July 22, 2008 in Car Reviews, Car Seats, Gear Reviews | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Rare Britax Sale at Amazon until March 2
Got your eye on a Britax car seat, stroller or more? Head on over to Amazon.com for a rare sale on all their Britax products, and save up to 20%. Sale is for one week only - February 24 to March 2, 2008.
February 24, 2008 in Car Seats, Giveaways,Coupons & Deals | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: britax, car seats
Maxi-Cosi Priori Car Seat Review - Relax, Recline, Rest!
Maxi-Cosi's new Priori Convertible Car Seat ($199) is newly on the market. Brought to America by the Dorel Juvenile Group, this convertible car seat is designed to support your child from birth to 4 years (up to 40 lbs) AND it has a RECLINE feature (actually 4 position settings for the seat).
I tested it with my two year old son, in the forward facing position. Unfortunately my toddler rarely falls asleep in the car and hates to recline anyway (even in a stroller). So, I had to test the recline feature of the Priori without him in it. To use the recline feature on the Priori, all you do is reach right under the bottom of the car seat and pull the handle until it is in the recline position you want (PLEASE pull over before you do this!!). Changing the recline settings took mere seconds and the four positions available are awake, relax, nap or slumber.
Features of the Priori:
- 4 independent recline positions are adjustable while your child’s in the car seat
- Energy absorbing EPP foam
- Harness holders keep harness straps out of the way
- Easy to install with 3-point seat belt or LATCH
- Rear-facing 5-35 lbs, 19”–36” · Forward-facing 22-40 lbs, 34-43”
February 19, 2008 in Car Seats | by Nancy Horn | Permalink | Comments (2)
Tags: car seats, maxi cosi, review
New Ease-of-Use Car Seat Ratings
Installing and using car seats can be a bear, and yesterday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration introduced a new ratings system for car seats - giving 1-5 stars for ease of use. Since safety depends on whether your car seat is installed correctly, then it makes sense that the easier the installation the more likely you'll have a safe situation. Check out the NHTSA website for the new car seat Ease-of-Use ratings.
February 12, 2008 in Car Seats | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: car seats, ratings
Orbit Baby Readies New Toddler Car Seat
The popular Orbit Baby System is adding a new toddler car seat to its system giving parents an option to extend their Orbit system after outgrowing the infant car seat. Like its infant car seat, the new toddler car seat will also fit the Orbit stroller base when removed from the Orbit Base. The toddler car seat can be use both rear-facing or front-facing depending on the weight of your child.
Available late February 2008.
link: Orbit Baby Website
January 6, 2008 in Car Seats | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: car seats, orbit baby, toddler
A carseat cover that paparazzi proofs your little peeps
Kudos to MyKozy for creating this infant car seat cover that does more than merely snazz up/protect a boring factory model carseat. The genius here is the attached blanket that allows you to shield your babe from the sun and also unwanted prying eyes, and pokey fingers. If you are a celebrity currently entertaining offers from the tabloids to publish junior's first photo, I hope you already have one of these. Otherwise if you are a parent who has to pick up an older kid at preschool and you are sick of saying "don't touch the baby's face!" in as calm a tone as you can manage when a three year old habitual nosepicker lunges at your newborn, you need this. Even a trip to the supermarket rife with cheek pinching wanna-be grandmas seems safer when your baby is clearly off limits. And who knows, they may actually sleep for long enough for you to get through the refrigerated aisle. Take your pick of the prints on the MyKozy site.
November 19, 2007 in Car Seats | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (0)
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